Category: Tampa Bay

Dick Greco is a Tampa original.

His roots are Ybor City; his passion is Tampa. He’s dined with presidents, generals and at least one dictator. He’s never met a stranger. He’s old-school loyal – sometimes to a fault.

He became mayor of Tampa when he was uncommonly young. He quit before his second term was up. He returned in his 60s to serve two more terms.

His sales pitches were part charm offensive and part blunt, deal-cutting pragmatism. His legacy includes the Tampa Marriott Waterside, the Stetson College of Law and the Community Investment Tax — and all the resultant ripples.

Now the former, four-time mayor has his own image as public art. And the recently unveiled bronze homage is also a Tampa original.

For openers, such honors are typically reserved for the deceased. Greco, at 74, looks like he has more city hall terms in him.

And his life-sized likeness is not so much mounted as it is affixed — to a bench across from the Convention Center and behind Embassy Suites in the Southern Transportation Plaza. It’s now “Dick Greco Plaza.” A pedestal would have been inappropriately formal; a bench with room for an old — or new — friend is appropriately approachable.

*At the official unveiling Mayor Pam Iorio, Greco’s successor, was gracious in recognizing his contributions, and whatever she omitted was largely fleshed out by Ron Rotella, long-time City Hall official/consultant and a Greco confidant. But ironically, no one in Greco Plaza mentioned the streetcar. Sure it’s controversial, but it was Greco who signed off on the project. He saw beyond the nostalgia to an investment in an economic development tool with major implications for the convention business – as well as a potential, light-rail starter set.

*The statue, by local sculptor Steve Dickey, was paid for with private funds. Councilman John Dingfelder was the driving force behind a group that raised $55,000. Biggest of the contributors: Don and Erika Wallace, Edward DeBartolo Jr. and John and Susan Sykes.

*Dickey’s approach was to approximate the Greco look between mayoral tenures – roughly age 50. That, however, precluded the likeness from being dead-on for contemporaries. For future generations the point, of course, is moot. But for now, frankly, you’d have to know it was Greco.

*Such eventful civic ceremonies will always draw key politicos and Jack Harris. But such an occasion wouldn’t truly be complete — or appropriate — without a formal contribution from James E. Tokley, Tampa’s poet laureate.

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To a lot of observers, the endorsement of Barack Obama by Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio was a surprise. She rarely does such things.

“I have been watching the campaign closely and continue to be impressed with Obama,” explained Iorio. “His intellect, his outstanding ability to communicate, his grasp of the issues facing this country and his superior campaign skills, which he will need come November, all convinced me that I should get involved in this election and endorse.”

The immediate impetus was provided by Rep. Kathy Castor who actually invited Iorio to the rally and suggested the time was right to meet Obama. The Tampa venue and the timing so near the end of the primary season were major factors.

“In the few minutes I had backstage with him, he asked what issues concerned me, and, of course, I mentioned mass transit and the need for federal help on infrastructure and housing,” added Iorio.

And will we see Iorio on the Obama hustings?

“I will help Obama from here to the general whenever he comes to Tampa or the Bay Area,” she said. “Introduce him or help with logistics or whatever helps.”

Now that the Platt Street Bridge segment of the Tampa Riverwalk is open, pedestrians can amble 6/10 of a mile to Cotanchobee Park — and take in those postcard vistas. And maybe stop and sip a few along the way.

The starting point is actually USF Park. But before proceeding under the bridge and past the Convention Center and the Marriott Waterside, notice what’s wedged between the park and Platt. It’s 239 South Ashley Boulevard, a weedy, triangular-shaped parcel. It’s nondescript; it’s tiny; it’s intriguing. It’s in a very high-profile location across from the Tampa Convention Center.

To Lee Hoffman, the Riverwalk’s Development Manager, it could be a “prime” staging area for vendors – as downtown’s critical mass grows and the Riverwalk becomes its own destination.

“It’s fairly small (about 1,750 square feet) and very limited,” says Hoffman. “I think we have to be creative, and we have to maximize every opportunity. It could also be a kayak rental and storage area – or even bike rentals. “The key is that it can be something that can help activate the Riverwalk,” emphasizes Hoffman. “A way that keeps people coming back.”

But if you’re Donald L. Torina, the owner of that (CBD-2) parcel, and your asking price is $800,000 — or more than $450 per square foot — you’re thinking of scenarios more ambitious than that. (He’ll also consider a long-term lease at $4,000 a month.)

Broker/owner Torina, 72, has held 239 South Ashley for 25 years. He says he’s already turned down an offer of $200 a square foot from the city. He thinks the right entrepreneur will see what he foresees: a “restaurant, café/lounge, package store/lounge, high end retail or residential flat,” according to his real estate flier. In fact, Torina once thought of putting in a restaurant himself, one designed around the bow of a ship.

“This is the apex of the Riverwalk,” points out Torina. “It’s the prime spot with hotels nearby and (convention center garage) 800 parking spots across the street. And you can (with limited air rights) go up three or four stories. I’d like to see something special. I can see a classy restaurant with a lounge on top – with a canopy.”

While Torina acknowledges that the parcel is pricey, he says he has “no problem” waiting for the entire 2.2-mile Riverwalk — from Tampa Heights to the Channel District — to be completed in 2010. “I want somebody with the wherewithal to do it right,” he underscores.

“The Riverwalk will absolutely make downtown Tampa,” he asserts. “The mayor has the right idea. It will tie everything together.”

Including, presumably, a certain odd-shaped, undersized sliver of real estate.

We were reminded recently that the Confucius Institute at USF is now up and running. It’s a liaison to China, which provides funding, in our backyard. USF is the only university in Florida to host such a cultural center. That it’s important to the U.S. as well as China should be self-evident.

And speaking of entities that help foster cross-cultural understanding — and even add prestige to their hosts — may we some day soon see USF or the University of Tampa hosting a Marti Institute. That it would be as important to the U.S. as well as Cuba should also be self-evident

Among the regional amenities that we can too easily take for granted are our colleges and universities – unless, of course, we are still attending one – or ponying up for the next generation’s tuition bills.

Oh, we are reminded of their presence when a big grant is trumpeted or headlines warn of impending cutbacks. Or when USF shocks the college football world or the University of Tampa wins another national baseball championship. Or the Committee of 100 churns out an economic-impact study.

But by its very nature, higher education is about being a wellspring of eclectic issues, intellectual energy and societal concerns – and that is hardly the exclusive dominion of students.

I was reminded of that reality recently when, along with about 800 others, I got up early enough to attend the annual University of Tampa Fellows Forum at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. It featured presentations by Peter Beck, Managing Director of The Beck Group, a prominent construction and development-services firm; Robert Fornaro, president and CEO of Airtran Airways; and Tom James, chairman and CEO, Raymond James Financial. Their takes on the economy and their industries were candid and complementary. A few days earlier I had spoken with (“All The Shah’s Men”) author Stephen Kinzer who was in town to lecture at USF Health against drum-beating for war against Iran.

Within that same time span, director Spike Lee also spoke at USF and writer-activist Gloria Steinem appeared at Eckerd College. And yet this was not an atypical stretch. It’s what you get when you’re proximate to all that universities offer; when you’re privy to the ultimate marketplace of ideas. When you’re, well, lucky enough to live here.

Some outtakes:

UT Fellows Forum

* “We’re in this (economic downturn) for a while. It’s been a bubble primarily driven by greed.” – Peter Beck

* “The building industry has no choice but to be a leader in green technology.” – Peter Beck

* “If we have a recession, and some already think we’re in one, it won’t be very deep. Don’t panic. The economy is amazingly resilient. The economy is still the biggest and best in the world.” – Tom James

* “Florida needs to face reality. Insurance rates still don’t reflect (hurricane) risks to the coasts here. We’re kidding ourselves and I fault the politicians who fault the insurance business.” Tom James

* “Fuel is the lightning rod for change. Look for more mergers

Spending money on a city amenity — such as the new Curtis Hixon Park — is always problematic during challenging financial times. And the legal uncertainty of revenue generated by the downtown Community Redevelopment Area, of course, hardly helps.

Mayor Pam Iorio, however, seems determined to make the waterfront makeover happen, and the case can certainly be made for Tampa finally having a downtown gateway that doubles as the city’s official, long-sought, community gathering place. One that aesthetically complements the Museum of Art, the Children’s Museum and the Riverwalk.

Having said all that, however, what’s with those cheesy, 50-foot glass pylons that would spell out the city’s name near Ashley Drive? Did Rafael Vinoly have something to do with the Curtis Hixon Park rendering?

At least the pricey pylons are part of Phase 2 – and subject to likely change.

A lot of you likely caught that story out of Pinellas County where the Osceola Middle School principal ate live crickets for lunch as his end of a bargain with students if they showed sufficient academic improvement. Anyone else wonder what schools now do in the formerly good name of “motivation?” All of a sudden, dunk tanks, water-balloon targets and cream pies-in-the-face gambits seem almost pedagogical.

Is this where high-profile, high-pressure “accountability” in schools has inevitably brought us? Is this what “pro-active” and “kid-oriented” has come to mean? Is there any wonder that the teaching profession doesn’t get the respect it deserves? Or maybe, in some cases, doesn’t deserve?

Of course it was the right decision to call a halt to the Children’s Gasparilla Parade. Lightning, aluminum stands and crowded floats could have been the perfect storm of tragedy. And, of course, it was sad – for those thousands of disappointed children and their families.

It was especially sad because the Children’s Parade is no longer just a cute spin-off, a wholesome sop to the sober. It’s also very big – entailing more than 100 krewes and 150 floats – and including continuous shuttle routes, a Bicycle Safety Rodeo, a Preschooler’s Stroll, two Air Invasions and a fireworks show.

And it was sad because the Children’s Parade is the real celebration. The one that doesn’t require a “Safe House.” The one that doesn’t feature ad hoc port-o-lets. The one that doesn’t deify litter.

It’s the one that is about kids WITH their parents, not intoxicated, rite-of-passage teens on the lam from parental oversight. What a concept.

So, Bobby Joe Helms, the “Hyde Park Rapist,” is being released. Again. After serving most of the past 22 years in prison and a treatment center.

Three points.

First, his plea deal plus discipline problems plus a violation of his treatment-center release lengthened his stay from his original 10-year sentence. Even still, that’s less than 1.5 years per (12) rape and (4) attempted rape.

Second, psychiatrists have determined that Helms is no longer a danger.

Third, how can they be so sure? Has he been spayed?

Sure, we’re still three years out, but wherever there’s a lame-duck office-holder, there’s successor speculation.

In the case of Tampa, where Mayor Pam Iorio is in her second — and final — term, there’s no lack of could-be contenders for City Hall 2011. Any list would surely include incumbent City Council members, most of whom have been taken aback by an Administration they consider communications challenged and high-handed. Among the more prominent could-be’s are the respected tandem of John Dingfelder and Linda Saul-Sena.

In that mayoral context, it’s instructive to note what the last month has wrought.

Dingfelder morphed into John Edwards channeling William Jennings Bryant in his defense of minority workers targeted for job loss through privatization. It looked like populist grandstanding to everybody but those minority workers, many from East Tampa. And it inspired the less-than-nuanced signage: “No justice, no peace.”

Saul-Sena, whose normal mien is that of cultural and environmental elder, turned embarrassingly juvenile in her one-woman protest-snit of IKEA’s light-green agenda. That it was, in effect, more environmental foe than friend. And that, if it didn’t re-think its Adamo Drive site plan, she would go YouTubing to humiliate it. All this, despite the fact that the Council had previously signed off on IKEA’s store plans by a 6-1 vote.

So, what this last month has wrought is this:

South Tampa’s Dingfelder can say he’s not just a “neighborhood” guy to the affluent with developer and zoning issues, but that he also cares about the little guy in East Tampa. It will resonate.

Saul-Sena’s YouRube behavior will still haunt her. One trial balloon deflated.